Land Rover unveils the diesel Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase in Beijing; first diesel hybrids in China

23 April 2014

Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase at the Beijing motor show. Together with the Range Rover Sport Hybrid (earlier post), it will be the first diesel hybrid from any manufacturer to be offered in China. Land Rover has identified China as a potentially strong market for its new premium hybrids, while the long wheelbase design is identified as best suiting Chinese customers’ preferences for luxury and spaciousness.

The Range Rover Hybrid powertrain combines Land Rover’s 3.0-liter SDV6 diesel engine with a 35 kW electric motor, integrated with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. The system allows the driver to select from three different drive modes to maximize performance or efficiency, and is capable of delivering 26% lower CO2 emissions (169g/km) and 6.4 l/100 km (36.8 mpg US).

Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase. Click to enlarge.

The complete system, including a lithium ion battery pack, inverter and electric motor, weighs less than 120 kg. The electric motor produces 170 N·m (125 lb-ft) torque and operates to boost acceleration when required, and to drive the vehicle in EV (electric vehicle) Mode.

The motor also acts as a generator, harvesting kinetic energy through regenerative braking, charging the battery when the vehicle is slowing. In EV mode the Range Rover Hybrid can travel at speeds of up to 30 mph (48 km/h) for a range of up to one mile (1.6 km) before the diesel engine seamlessly restarts.

Together, output of the diesel engine and electric motor is 340 PS (250 kW) at 4,000 rpm and a class-leading 700 N·m (516 lb-ft) torque between 1,500-3,000rpm, delivering performance on a par with the SDV8 engine. The version to be marketed in China is technically identical to that sold elsewhere, except for a change to the exhaust system to take into account the different local emissions standards.

The hybrid system uses the same proven Terrain Response system and all-wheel drive technology deployed in the gasoline and diesel-powered models. Wading depth capability is undiminished at a class-leading 900mm.

The production vehicles benefit from insights Land Rover gained from its Silk Trail expedition in 2013. A fleet of Range Rover Hybrids proved their durability and all-terrain capability on a grueling 16,000 km (9,942-mile) route from the Land Rover factory in Solihull, across central Asia to the Mumbai headquarters of Tata, Land Rover’s parent company. After the journey, the vehicles were stripped down and scrutinized by Land Rover engineers to improve understanding of how the designs and technologies can be fine-tuned.

Global order books will open in May and first deliveries to customers in China are expected from the end of the year.

Comments

ONE KM IN ELECTRIC MODE IS NOTHING .THEY SHOULD HAVE MINIMUM 40 KMS IN ELECTRIC MODE.TATA INSPITE OF BEING A WORLD CLASS MAJOR GROUP ARE NEVER IN FOREFRONT OF TECHNOLOGY OR INNOVATION. THEY HAVE TO TURN TO GREEN ENERGY TO SURVIVE OTHERWISE THEY WILL NOSE DIVE LIKE TATA MOTORS.WORLD NEEDS VEHICLES LIKE TOYOTO I ROADS AND NOT GAS GUZZLING MONSTERS.